1.3 The Paradox of Energy Security and Sustainability
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7. Waste disposal: This is an important threat, especially safe disposal of nuclear
waste. Most consumers are of the view that solar energy is the safest and best
option for future not realizing that even the waste generated from solar panels
contains toxic substances such as cadmium and chromium.
8. Political relationship and arm-twisting: More than stability of the importing
nation, it is the political rapport between the countries and the region that is
of paramount importance. Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas to most
of the Europe (largely eastern), including countries like Lithuania, Estonia,
Finland, and Latvia where it supplies 100% of their requirement as well as to
Germany, Italy, France, Netherland, Belgium, and so on in lesser proportion.
Most of the gas is supplied through pipeline that pass-through Ukraine. The
ongoing political discord between Russia and Ukraine may endanger supplies
to Ukraine by Russia or Ukraine can disrupt supplies to Europe. In fact, Russia
shut down supplies to Ukraine in January 2009 for two weeks. Arm-twisting by
Russia makes Europe highly vulnerable to supplies, they have increased their
storage capacity, and interconnected gas pipelines between them, which in tun
means additional expenditure and more risk.
9. Emergency response: The history of emergency whether at national, regional,
or global level reveals that such exigencies occur frequently and unpredictably.
Fukushima nuclear disaster is a case in point where Japanese were found
wanting after the tsunami and radioactive leaks, shut down all nuclear plants, and
vowed to switch over to renewables. Likewise, the US–China trade war, global
economic slowdown, and COVID-19 attack have brought global economy on
its knees. Badly hurt economy, mass deaths, disruption in supply of labor, goods
and services, rising unemployment, and drain of savings will affect everyone in
the country whether rich of poor with varying intensity. This also means deceleration in the momentum for renewable energy and setback to climate change
mitigation efforts. The lesson from such events—Every nation irrespective of
its economic status must prepare an emergency shield against power shut down
due to natural and other disasters.
10. Conservation and efficiency: Continuation of fossil fuel is not only a serious
energy security issue but an equally potent global warming weapon. Any
policy that can alleviate one of the threats can also help to address the other.
Improving energy efficiency through technological improvements can result in
less consumption of fossil fuels and reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions in
near future. Conservation of energy is also an effective way of mitigating climate
change impacts especially where fossil fuels are used to provide electricity and
for transportation. For instance, switching off the light when leaving a room or
walking and cycling instead of driving. In the long run replacement of coal to
gas or to other zero carbon energy sources will be must as coal emits almost
75% more carbon per unit of energy contained in the fuel than natural gas and
about one-third more than oil.
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7. Waste disposal: This is an important threat, especially safe disposal of nuclear
waste. Most consumers are of the view that solar energy is the safest and best
option for future not realizing that even the waste generated from solar panels
contains toxic substances such as cadmium and chromium.
8. Political relationship and arm-twisting: More than stability of the importing
nation, it is the political rapport between the countries and the region that is
of paramount importance. Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas to most
of the Europe (largely eastern), including countries like Lithuania, Estonia,
Finland, and Latvia where it supplies 100% of their requirement as well as to
Germany, Italy, France, Netherland, Belgium, and so on in lesser proportion.
Most of the gas is supplied through pipeline that pass-through Ukraine. The
ongoing political discord between Russia and Ukraine may endanger supplies
to Ukraine by Russia or Ukraine can disrupt supplies to Europe. In fact, Russia
shut down supplies to Ukraine in January 2009 for two weeks. Arm-twisting by
Russia makes Europe highly vulnerable to supplies, they have increased their
storage capacity, and interconnected gas pipelines between them, which in tun
means additional expenditure and more risk.
9. Emergency response: The history of emergency whether at national, regional,
or global level reveals that such exigencies occur frequently and unpredictably.
Fukushima nuclear disaster is a case in point where Japanese were found
wanting after the tsunami and radioactive leaks, shut down all nuclear plants, and
vowed to switch over to renewables. Likewise, the US–China trade war, global
economic slowdown, and COVID-19 attack have brought global economy on
its knees. Badly hurt economy, mass deaths, disruption in supply of labor, goods
and services, rising unemployment, and drain of savings will affect everyone in
the country whether rich of poor with varying intensity. This also means deceleration in the momentum for renewable energy and setback to climate change
mitigation efforts. The lesson from such events—Every nation irrespective of
its economic status must prepare an emergency shield against power shut down
due to natural and other disasters.
10. Conservation and efficiency: Continuation of fossil fuel is not only a serious
energy security issue but an equally potent global warming weapon. Any
policy that can alleviate one of the threats can also help to address the other.
Improving energy efficiency through technological improvements can result in
less consumption of fossil fuels and reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions in
near future. Conservation of energy is also an effective way of mitigating climate
change impacts especially where fossil fuels are used to provide electricity and
for transportation. For instance, switching off the light when leaving a room or
walking and cycling instead of driving. In the long run replacement of coal to
gas or to other zero carbon energy sources will be must as coal emits almost
75% more carbon per unit of energy contained in the fuel than natural gas and
about one-third more than oil.